| Author |
Topic |
|
Canmore, AB
25 Posts |
Posted - 01/14/2008 : 07:30 AM
|
K Country Avalanche report:
Report valid: Sunday, January 13, 2008 until further notice
This report is for backcountry terrain only. Skiing conditions for facility areas are not included in this report.
For current trail conditions please see our Trail Reports.
Avalanche Danger Scale
Alpine Considerable
Treeline Considerable
Below Treeline Moderate
Discussion:
Only a trace amount of new snow fell overnight on Sunday and temperatures remained generally mild. Overall, we are continuing to see some settlement and strengthening of the upper snowpack but the concerns associated with the persistent weak basal facets are likely to continue for some time. An injury accident avalanche occurred late in the afternoon on Sunday in the Tryst lake area. Two skiers who were skiing on a Northern aspect triggered a size 2.5 avalanche that ran from the crest of the ridge down to the lake. One skier was buried down 1m while the second skier managed to avoid being caught in the slide by hanging onto nearby trees. Quick field observations estimated the slab thickness to be between 30-60cms thick and up to 100m across at its widest point. The slide ran close to 300m in length and failed at the ground in the basal facets. Despite the warmer temperatures promoting some settlement and strengthening within the snowpack it will be some time before we will see any significant change in overall stability. Skiers should continue to choose conservative lines and avoid bigger terrain features. In alpine areas, lenses of hard slabs have developed within lee features (N and E aspects) and along cross-loaded terrain. Shallow or rocky snowpack areas will be the weak points where skiers will be able to cause a failure in the underlying facets so choose travel routes that avoid these areas. Due to the widespread weak facetted base and the overlying hard slab, it is also likely that any avalanche that does occur will propagate across a given terrain feature and involve the entire snowpack. At treeline, a variety of hard and soft slabs can be found along ridgelines, behind tree fences and in gullied terrain that remain sensitive to light loads such as a skier. Choose travel routes that avoid these types of features and be very careful to avoid steep and unsupported slopes and be watching for the affects of localized winds. Be prepared to turn around or change your travel plans as you move into increasingly wind affected terrain --Especially if you begin to encounter cracking or whumpfing as you travel. Forecasts for Monday are calling for some of the warmest temperatures we have seen this season. Daytime highs of +6°C are forecast for valley bottoms throughout the region. As a result, we should expect to see some decreases in stability on solar aspects later in the day as conditions warm up. These affects will be most apparent
Backcountry Travel Conditions: It has been some time since we have seen any significant snowfall in the region and as a result, good turns are getting tougher to find. If you do manage to find a powder “stash” you might be best served by not telling anyone. Cornices are larger than normal for this time of year so be sure to avoid spending time on slopes with these “triggers” overhead.
We were on Tryst Ridge when this occurred. A guy I know was travelling on his own and saw the two guys lying in the debris and realized this was not right. He helped dig them out and then came looking for us as further help was needed. He skied out and activated EMS. It took him twenty minutes to ski from Tryst lake to the road. Wow! The injured party suffered broken ribs and was entering hypothermia. We skied down to the location (Val, Sarah and I) and offered assistance. We provided all of our warm clothes, Sarah and the uninjured person huddled under my siltarp with the injured person and kept him warm. Val and I organized the area and prepared it for the helicopter rescue. There was no way that we would be able to get him out. Both guys had lost their skis. It took two hours for EMS to arrive. They circled and went back to get more assistance. When they landed two out of three of the rescuers I know. One I have skied with before. This was Mike and his buddy Atar (the avy hound). What I nice dog, Mike had me keep him under control while they did what they had to do. I was grateful, he was warm and the helicopter wash had chilled me right down. Sarah ended up getting flown out as she was really cold and Val and I skied out, arriving back at the car about fifteen minutes after sunset. K Country had a staff person hanging out at our car with Sarah to make sure we got out. She also knew us. Val does yoga with one of the rescuers, Latin aerobics with the K Country staff person so it was like old home week. I was really impressed with all of the rescuers and was quite choked up about how effusive they all were with their thanks for what we did.
It is important to note that we were not in any way involved in the actual avalanche. These guys were trying to ski the chute furthest in, one I wouldn’t touch even in low hazard conditions. I believe that if it hadn’t been for Dave and our group, the injured guy would have died. They both lost their skis and it would have taken forever for the uninjured guy to walk to the road. He would have not made it till morning, the snow is bottomless.
Interestingly enough, I was conducting an avalanche course for assistant trip leaders of the Alpine Club. They sure learned a lot more than I could ever have staged. There is no cell phone coverage there, even higher up. Dave tried using the phone at the ranger station, it was out of order, go figure. He finally found one at the Transalta building in the same area. It is time to get a VHF radio!
|
|
 Alberta-based choss climbin', flame throwin', rappel lovin', ass talkin' hater who doesn't like "Gumby" for a descriptor
6302 Posts |
Posted - 01/14/2008 : 09:15 AM
|
All of the advice from the forecasters just does not seem to be getting the message through this year, unfortunately. People are triggering slides left right and centre lately.
Thanks for the info. |
|
|
High River, (just south of Calgary eh!), Alberta
Canada
1697 Posts |
Posted - 01/14/2008 : 3:40 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by rplasman
I believe that if it hadn’t been for Dave and our group, the injured guy would have died.
Good thing you were there!!
I'm curious what (if any) of the costs of this exercise are the responsibility of the party that got rescued?
|
|
|
Canmore, AB
25 Posts |
Posted - 01/14/2008 : 4:32 PM
|
There is no charge to those involved. I think it would be counterproductive to do so. What we need is education. This winter we have met the enemy and it is us. The forecasts are accurate and warning daily of what will happen if you venture into steeper gnarlier terrain and yet people are still going even when they know better. Classic human factors are coming into play. The situation is very simple this season. All of Northwestern North America has a PWL (persistent weak layer) in the snowpack and as a consequence, lots of avalanches. Problems can be avoided by using terrain. We are not hearing too much about the near misses, there have been many this season.
Cheers
Rod Plasman
|
|
|
High River, (just south of Calgary eh!), Alberta
Canada
1697 Posts |
Posted - 01/14/2008 : 4:41 PM
|
| No, a charge could cause some people not to call for help, we don't want that. In this "user pays" world I just wasn't sure. Thanks for clarifying that for me. |
|
|
Whistler, BC
Canada
631 Posts |
Posted - 01/14/2008 : 5:32 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by rplasman
We are not hearing too much about the near misses, there have been many this season.
Like this one...
http://www.avalanche.ca/Forums/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=3404
2m burial and his buddies got him out in 15 mins. Intense.
|
|
|
|
Kootenay Bud
2695 Posts |
Posted - 01/14/2008 : 6:22 PM
|
Rod, would you mind giving a GR for rough location?
Tx,
PS, I was out this weekend doing much the same thing with our local club, and it's amazing how many people are not even aware of what aspect they are skiing up or planning to descend. |
|
|
Canmore, AB
25 Posts |
Posted - 01/15/2008 : 06:31 AM
|
Sandy:
NAD 27 11U 615324E 5630410N |
|
|
Calgary, AB
Canada
498 Posts |
Posted - 01/15/2008 : 08:34 AM
|
Thanks for the post Rod.
Play safe out there! |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Avalanche Incident at Trst lake
